With the Minnesota Vikings holding a 10-point lead against the Tennessee Titans midway through the fourth quarter, Titans quarterback Will Levis lined up in shotgun formation for a key fourth-and-4 play from the Minnesota 43-yard line.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores set up six players on the line, signaling a potential blitz, but without confirming whether it would actually happen. As expected, the linebackers dropped back when the ball was snapped, leaving the pass rush to the front four.
Patrick Jones beat Titans right guard Peter Skoronski, the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and sacked Levis for a 6-yard loss with 8:32 left in the game. This turnover on downs effectively sealed the Vikings’ 23-13 victory, improving their record to 8-2.
The Vikings’ defense has been relentless against quarterbacks all season, often without needing extra rushers.
“We were just all out there rushing together. Just trying to work off of each other,” Jones said, who had two of the five sacks of Levis, none of which required extra help. “We were all just playing free out there. Just having fun.”
With Andrew Van Ginkel (eight sacks), Jonathan Greenard (seven sacks), and Jones (seven sacks), the Vikings are on track to have three players with 10 or more sacks for just the third time in the team’s history.
The only other times this happened were in 1968, when Alan Page, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall each had 10 or more sacks, and in 1989, when Chris Doleman, Keith Millard, and Al Noga all reached double digits during the Vikings’ franchise-record 71-sack season.
“That group as a whole is really a strength,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The Vikings’ pass rush has been revitalized with the addition of Greenard and Van Ginkel through free agency, even after letting go of four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.
Flores still calls blitzes more frequently than any other coach in the league (36%, according to Sportradar), but the number of times extra rushers are sent has decreased from 53% last season.
Flores has found an effective way to create pressure by often removing interior linemen and using four edge rushers. However, he still sends extra rushers—such as inside linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace and safeties Josh Metellus and Harrison Smith—enough to keep the opposing offense uncertain about where to focus its protection.
“Our guys up front did a great job. First, stopping the run. Second, getting after the quarterback,” said safety Harrison Smith. “That makes it hard, no matter what you know at that point. You’ve got guys trying to put pressure on you all day.”
